International   

Najaf province handed over to Iraqi forces

Robert Gates makes surprise visit to Baghdad

MARTIAL SKILLS: Iraqi security forces show their skills during the ceremony marking the handover of security in Najaf province to Iraqi forces, in Najaf city on Wednesday. - PHOTO: AFP

Advertisement

BAGHDAD: United States-led coalition forces handed over security control of Najaf province to Iraqi forces on Wednesday in third such transfer of an entire province even as the new U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates flew into war-torn Baghdad on an unannounced fact-finding trip.

``It is a major step forward in improving security and strengthening the authority of the Government,'' U.S. Major General Kurt Cichowski, who oversaw the transfer of authority, told a gathering of political and religious leaders in the Najaf stadium south of Baghdad.

``Coalition forces will continue to provide support if called upon,'' he said. ``Today marks a historic event for the great country of Iraq,'' U. S. commander Brigadier General Vincent Brooks said.

The Iraqi National Security Adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie told the ceremony, ``in a few days, we shall see a transfer of security in three other provinces in northern Kurdistan.'' At the ceremony, the Iraqi security forces paraded around a soccer field of the stadium with their armoured personnel carriers and Humvees.

Intense debate

Najaf, 160 km south of Baghdad, was the scene of fierce clashes in 2004 between U.S. troops and militiamen loyal to radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Mr. Gates flew into Baghdad amid fierce debate in Washington over whether to send U.S. troop reinforcements.

Shortly before his flight touched down, Baghdad was rocked by two powerful car bombs that killed at least 15 persons and injured dozens more, in the latest outrage to mark the capital's descent into sectarian conflict.

``The whole purpose is to go out, listen to the commanders, talk to the Iraqis, see what I can learn,'' Mr. Gates told reporters travelling with him. His lightning visit comes amid intense debate in Washington over whether to send some 30,000 more U.S. troops to try to stem the violence, or at least to pacify Baghdad and give the Iraqi Government some breathing space.

In other incidents of violence, gunmen kidnapped six Sunni men at a fake checkpoint 25 km south of Baghdad at dawn, police said. The men were intercepted as they drove north toward the capital, their cars loaded with fruits and vegetables to sell there. Police also said a Palestinian teacher was killed in a drive-by shooting in eastern Baghdad. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

No progress in six-party talks
Najaf province handed over to Iraqi forces
Colombo warns LTTE of reprisal
Truce in Palestinian areas barely holding
Marijuana is U.S.' top cash crop
The digital library debate
"Plot against Russia"
Nuclear power will be key source in India, says Bush

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu